Climate change is getting crowded out by other issues among voters’ priorities in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with a sizable majority saying the issue won’t influence their vote, according to year-long polling data.
At best, climate change is just one of many issues that voters are aware of, and will consider, as they vote.
At worst, it won’t have anything to do with how citizens vote on Tuesday, according to ongoing polling results from Reuters.
In answering whether climate change, or the environment, will motivate one’s vote in an election, 84 percent said “no,” while 16 percent said “yes,” according to the poll that began a year ago and continues through the election. Over 18,000 voters have responded to the poll so far.
“It always polls very low and people tend to care much more about higher profile issues like the economy, taxes, healthcare, and immigration,” said Frank Maisano, a principal at the law firm Bracewell, who represents clients in the energy and environment space.
“I am sure It may have some residual impact in some areas, but for the most part, it will be insignificant,” Maisano added.
Another Reuters poll, asking slightly different questions, showed just over 37 percent of voters consider climate change “as one of many important factors” in how they vote.
Just about 32 percent of voters say they will vote for a candidate that shares their view when it comes to climate change. And nearly 31 percent responded that the issue does not influence their vote. The year-long rolling poll had not concluded as of Monday, showing almost 4,000 had responded, so far.
Climate change may matter more in key districts and states in which environmental issues have become part of high-profile ballot initiatives, Maisano said.
For example, Washington state is voting Tuesday on placing a tax on carbon dioxide pollution blamed for causing climate change; Florida has a measure on offshore drilling; California is voting on repealing the gasoline tax, as well as banning fracking in one county; and Colorado is also voting on a fracking ban.
Many environmental groups have focused their voting outreach on those ballot initiatives, rather than looking to influence campaigns more broadly across the country.
“Now that we’re only a few days from midterm Election Day, our support is laser-focused on key ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington that could have a huge impact on climate and energy policy, if passed,” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Cassady Craighill, speaking to the Washington Examiner over the weekend.
Likewise, the group 350.org is focused on getting Californians to vote “yes” on Measure G to ban fracking in San Luis Obispo County, with actor Mark Ruffalo launching an online appeal on Twitter.
But other groups are convinced that President Trump’s anti-climate change policies will hurt his party in the midterms.
“Americans are tired of it, and we are ready to elect candidates who will take the necessary steps to protect our communities and our environment,” said Michelle Chan, vice president of programs at Friends of the Earth.
Chan says climate change concerns have prompted hundreds of political candidates across the country to refuse campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry, and many to call for a “just and rapid transition to renewable energy.”
Just over 1,200 political candidates and incumbents signed the online “No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge” to refrain from taking fossil fuel money.
